Rep. West: US isn't reaching for the stars anymore

This transcript is automatically generated

Welcome everybody I'm Neil Cavuto and this is what my fellow news guys hold the money shot today.

The space shuttle -- -- everyone and I mean everyone straining to just have a look the enterprise.

A symbol of our conquering space headed to New York to become a tourist attraction on a ship and everyone wants and every one food.

And everyone -- and everyone stopped what they were doing the marvel at the site that was unfolding.

And you know I did not watch I did not who I did not long.

I didn't stop what I was doing all I did was shake my head and wonder what our nation was becoming.

This.

Is mesmerizing.

Now I'm old enough to remember when this one's.

I know I side -- bogey but that was exciting -- Was jaw dropping -- was us win every launch was a big deal.

And in its early days every shuttle launch was a big deal to.

When we had Sally ride and now we -- have to settle just hitching -- that's we -- That is weird.

So are her bombing you but man oh man this whole end -- and everything is really bombing -- The nation that landed a man on the moon before decade was out -- could launch is that tested our imagination.

Even through tragedies that tested our resolve.

Well done just created images of what we were.

Now celebrating celebrated.

Moth -- But we could -- I don't know but today it'd be like a Saturday those solar -- we have surrendered space my friends.

Now happily taking a backseat to -- Thousands -- -- more than happy to pounce on the incredible bang for the buck they know that they will get from space do we used to know that.

Before we started piggybacking with the Russians took just get a ride in his face.

And now whooping and hollering a symbol of our triumphs pigging backing with a Jumbo jet to confirm.

We did enough space to.

Why isn't the only one -- out about this -- Republican congress and Allen west but was still in congress and I know from the state of course that brought us so many.

Great and wonderful memories of your great state and and and Texas.

Houston control and and on and on and on.

This -- said that it was -- Yeah I think so because -- when you think about.

American exceptional isn't the uniqueness of us as -- people.

The fact that we were challenged -- -- leadership such -- John F.

Kennedy was president the time.

To put a man on the moon we answered that challenge so I think -- what you see now is really sad day for.

America and of course the space coast down in Florida because that's almost as if we're not challenging ourselves to reach for the stars.

And I think we also from a national security perspective.

Have to understand that the -- next a new dimension in this 21 century battlefield is the is outer space and the dominance of the cyber arena.

Did it -- -- was odd congressman that more people were fixated on this ongoing saga getting.

This -- craft from Washington to New York then they were save some tragic launches.

-- Any any that we had seen in the great space days.

Well I think that people were still focus on the launches of course whom we have to wants shuttle Atlantis -- Washington DC.

Made several loops around the capital area.

And a lot of the staff here want to catch a glimpse of that.

And the sad thing is that for many of them maybe they thought the -- the last time that they be able to see that space shuttle traveling across the air.

Even though -- was riding piggyback on not some 47.

So again we have to not assume this position of leaders from behind and stomach for a ride that's not what Americans do.

We are pace setters we are the ones who always leave from the front.

And I think that if we can restore that type of leadership to this country.

And 1000 but I command I didn't ever challenged my unit to do less always Chelsea unit to do more and I think that they took pride in that.

You know congress and you mentioned John F.

Kennedy when he.

Staked out the goal of landing a man on the moon before the decade was out and many people thought he should be on the moon -- of a basis goal of the time but.

That was then when we had little surpluses.

This is now one -- don't -- anything of the sort.

So our options are fuel to nonexistent.

What do you make -- of that argument that.

Sure it's a great gold -- to be looking to space but there's.

There's nothing in the cover to -- Well I think one of the most important things that comes back to leadership.

And it comes back to leadership to has a vision and that's what John F.

Kennedy had.

And we need to have leadership in this country right now that understands our economic security our energy security and national security.

And -- the link that right now and -- it it doesn't drink because what I just was driven by the fact that the Soviets at the time.

We had went and looked ahead of us here and it was as much -- military's it was a technological.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You're absolutely right and that's why I say those three things are -- the three pillars of our security economic energy and national security and they are all linked together.

And if we did have our economic situation.

A lot -- where we don't have fifteen point six trillion dollars in debt.

There really no way ahead in the future that looks at reducing that debt reduce and these deficits that we have.

It will affect our energy security and it will eventually affect our national security.

And as I said you know us sitting here and -- summarize from -- Russia.

-- watching China start to exceed us -- -- having a stronger naval forces strategic air force.

And also looking to be more dominant in the arena of cyber.

That's not what America should be focused on but we need to have the right type of focus visionary leadership.

The first of August this fellow government.

To be more fiscally responsible.

You know it's it's it just -- -- congress that I was looking yet the initial budget requests a candidate for the space program.

And I think the first and was one point six billion dollars could eventually got up to four billion dollars and that's what we've committed before he was assassinated and I'm thinking.

Four million dollars that's that's what we just always that a day right exact area.

-- and the argument is unless there's a big picture or big goal or big cars.

On this ain't gonna happen and and and there -- -- -- right I mean what we have to do.

-- and make that up a purposeful goal another was one where we can.

C a bang for the -- -- a lot of people as some might say well it's just going to be another Green energy -- debacle it's going to be another cylinder debacle.

And and a lot of Americans are -- news -- to look once burned.

More than twice -- Yeah you're absolutely right you know fool me once shame on me fool me it's like -- then shame on you fool me twice shame on me.

And that's why I think it's so important that we get the right type of leadership -- -- in the DC.

We don't have a strategic roadmap for this country as far as our -- we don't have a strategic roadmap.

As far as our energy security think about almost forty years ago we created the Department of Energy to make us energy independent and we still are there yet.

-- we continue to waste billions upon billions and out trillions of dollars.

Really chase and our tail.

And that's where you need to have principal pragmatic leadership from forces up in Washington DC.

And -- for -- for the American people have a choice between two futures coming up here and on November.

They can continue down -- path of being a a socially -- Terry egalitarian welfare nanny state.

Well we can get back to once again.

Dreaming big dreams for this country in making sure we create the right type of opportunities for future generations.

Now you guys have a two week vacation coming up I guess by that now I've never have a vacation my friend all right bottom -- I'll be 56 billion dollars deeper in debt well you guys are -- So and now we know of course people its -- apparently this is an election year.

So -- -- they get done.

Certainly through the election so a lot of these issues.

That are backing up like.

Rockets ready to launch -- don't launch until maybe a lame duck says that -- congress so do a lot of the tough issues like resolving.

What happens to these bush tax rates.

-- you what -- city's payroll tax.

Cut so what happens to the Alternative Minimum Tax what happens all this stuff bullets firing at the end of the year is that when it gets done in -- lame duck -- Well unfortunately looks like that's the path we're -- on if you remember there was a young Florida.

Member of congress who hadn't even been sworn in this in a letter to the leadership talking about how we he didn't believe that the calendar -- -- working toward accomplice in those big goals.

And I think that that is one of the reasons why you see a low approval rating for us because we're not spend the time appeared to tackle these fixes these problems and situations.

Especially as far as our economy when you look at the fact that we could have the largest tax increase that the American people have ever seen next January if we don't store work in two.

Do substantive about the certainty.

But when you're sitting up here -- in DC -- and you pass -- budgets on the house but she -- have a a -- that has not passed -- in three years.

You don't have a willing partner and that's what we need more anything else is willing partner so that we can tackle these big issues and not sit back and talk about election there.

Aren't congressman thank you very much thank you -- advertise -- -- industries that are views I hope we're both wrong and that congress.

Saying well if this if it's up to me we're gonna restore those programs that are necessary.

To provide an exceptional as of of this country and was nice land it.

Thank you sir always pleasure thanks yes.

Well GDP you know it is -- --

Watch Live

Rep. West: US isn't reaching for the stars anymore

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Okla. Gov. Fallin: We're strong and we'll rebuild

House of Scandals: Where was Obama?

Tea Party group sues IRS for political profiling

State Dept. official says he was 'scapegoat' for Benghazi

Gutfeld: Media still cast Tea Party as villains, not victims

Sen. Paul: 'Someone has to be fired' over IRS scandal

Search, rescue efforts still underway at tornado-hit school

Survivor: Family will 'stay together and just rebuild'

Scandals affecting public opinion of Obama administration?

Oklahoma: How you can help rescue teams on the ground

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Moore, Oklahoma resident: 'God, protect me. Protect me'

Transcript

Recommended